formality
Americannoun
plural
formalities-
condition or quality of being formal; accordance with required or traditional rules, procedures, etc.; conventionality.
-
rigorously methodical character.
-
strict adherence to established rules and procedures; rigidity.
-
observance of form or ceremony.
-
marked or excessive ceremoniousness.
-
an established order or method of proceeding.
the formalities of judicial process.
-
a formal act or observance.
-
something done merely or mainly for form's sake; a requirement of custom or etiquette.
the formality of a thank-you note.
noun
-
a requirement of rule, custom, etiquette, etc
-
the condition or quality of being formal or conventional
-
strict or excessive observance of form, ceremony, etc
-
an established, proper, or conventional method, act, or procedure
Etymology
Origin of formality
From the Latin word fōrmālitās, dating back to 1525–35. See formal 1, -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But with an overstuffed field of nine major Democratic contenders — San José Mayor Matt Mahan was said to have entered the contest too late for consideration — the vote proved to be a mere formality.
From Los Angeles Times
But it must also have been a difficult personal moment for the King to set such a public distance between himself and his younger brother, who he calls with some formality Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
From BBC
"This situation naturally raises the question: what kind of peace and what kind of consistency can we be talking about if even the basic formalities for our participation were not fulfilled by the organisers?"
From Barron's
In rehearsal, Mays fully inhabits his role — and his costume — moving with a lithe formality as he strives to eavesdrop on Mozart and Constanze.
From Los Angeles Times
All that was left was for Frank to be officially informed of his departure - a formality that took place on Wednesday morning in a meeting between the manager, Venkatesham and Lange.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
